A senior government minister has launched a fierce attack on Reform UK, accusing the party of wrongly blaming parents for failures within the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.
Minister Condemns 'Damaging' Rhetoric
Schools standards minister Georgia Gould directly criticised comments made by prominent Reform figures, which have included suggestions that some children are merely "naughty" and that bad parenting is a core issue. She also rejected claims of an overdiagnosis of SEND conditions.
Speaking to The Mirror, Ms Gould stated that such remarks have a tangible, negative impact. "I think that when I speak to parents and young people, those comments have a real world impact for how they feel about themselves and their communities," she said. The minister firmly rejected the notion that parents are at fault, arguing the government should be "working alongside parents, listening to them and changing things together, not blaming them for the system failures we're seeing."
Reform UK's Controversial Stance on SEND
The criticism follows a series of interventions from Reform UK representatives. The party's deputy leader, Richard Tice, the MP for Boston and Skegness, has repeatedly claimed there is an "over-diagnosis" of children with SEND. He has described seeing children use ear defenders in classrooms as "insane" and suggested some middle-class families are "playing the game" to secure VAT exemptions on private school fees.
Earlier in 2025, Nigel Farage similarly argued that overdiagnosis of mental illness and behavioural disabilities is "creating a class of victims". Furthermore, the party's chairman, Dr David Bull, was previously criticised by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson for stating that "many of these kids are naughty kids, bad parenting".
Labour's Push for SEND Reform
Ms Gould's comments come as she tours the country, consulting with experts, parents and children ahead of the publication of the Government's SEND White Paper in the new year. She acknowledged that Labour inherited a system "on its knees", with many parents having lost faith after their children were let down.
Despite the scale of the challenge, the minister expressed optimism, citing a widespread desire to fix the system. "Teachers go into this profession because they want to serve all children," she noted, adding that the commitment to deliver for children with SEND "is everywhere". The government has already pledged at least £3 billion to create tens of thousands of new specialist places and improve teacher training.
In response, a Reform UK spokesman defended the party's position, pointing to comments made by Health Secretary Wes Streeting about overdiagnosis in mental health. The spokesman stated: "One in five children in England are now identified with SEND, and Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) have trebled since 2015. It is clear that there is a crisis when it comes to the overdiagnosis of SEND, driven by incentives that encourage families to pursue diagnoses."
